Page 95 of The Reason I Married Him
“Are you staying with her in her house?” Hayes asks.
“Not yet, but starting this week, I’m moving in.”
“Does she know you’re moving in?” Hayes asks on a chuckle. “Because Aubree is not great at sharing her space.”
“Yeah, we talked about it last night, but we came to the conclusion that it would be best to cross that bridge. She’s wanted me to spend the night while I’ve been here, but I wanted to give her space, let her adjust.” Total lies, but I am a storyteller, after all.
“Probably smart,” Hayes says. He sips from his mug and then lowers it back to the table. He stares off at the ocean, still gripping the handle. “I think you’ll be good for her.” His eyes return to me. “Not that I know much about you, but what I do know, I think she needs. You’re lighthearted and fun. You seem not to dwell on the negative, and she needs someone like that in her life.”
“A reverse grumpy sunshine,” I say.
Hayes raises a brow in question, causing me to laugh.
“Sorry, it’s a book trope. Usually in books, the man is the grumpy one and the girl is the sunshine in the relationship. People love a grumpy hero and a female who can bring him to his knees. Aubree and I would be the reverse version. She’s grumpy, and I’m sunshine, but she’s still the one bringing me to my knees. Every fucking day.”
“The Rowley women will do that to you,” Hayes says. “At first, Hattie was the most annoying person ever, but then it was like it hit me all at once. I liked her annoying tendencies. I liked how she joked around with me, poked fun at me. It made me feel real, like I wasn’t this man in a glass case that everyone wanted to impress or ask for something. She made me feel like I was an actual human.”
I nod. “I get that with Aubree. Clearly, I’m not as famous as you, but I enjoy the fact that Aubree could give two shits about my books even though I know she’s read them. I like that she fights back. I like that she doesn’t let me get away with anything. She challenges me.” Now that’s all true. I do enjoy that about Aubree.And it’s something Cadance rarely did.She was challenging,but she argued with me because she was a tad spoiled.
“It’s the challenge,” Hayes says knowingly. “We like the fucking challenge.”
“We do,” I say before taking another huge bite of my bear claw.
“So when do you plan to propose?”
“Soon,” I answer. “Just have to get a ring.”
“Wow, I didn’t think it would be that quick.” He shakes his head with a smile. “Fuck, man. You’re going to make me look bad.”
“Do you want to propose to Hattie?”
He nods. “Yeah, been trying to think of the perfect way to do it. I know Ryland, Mac, and Aubree would approve. But look at you, coming in full steam and just taking charge.” He grips his chin. “I felt like I needed to win over the crowd first.”
“There was history with you and Ryland, so the delay is understandable. I’m just the guy who had a piece of the farm and came right on in.”
“Yeah, how the fuck is that fair?”
I shrug. “It’s not. But I’m not complaining.”
Wyatt:It’s happening. We’re getting married.
Laurel:You’re serious? She agreed?
Wyatt:Yup, we’re currently dating at the moment—fake dating—and I plan on proposing soon. Tonight I’m going to surprise her with my bags.
Laurel:What do you mean by bags? That could represent a variety of things. Like your suitcases? Or are we talking more intimate like . . . your bags, you know, testicles?
Wyatt:Jesus, no man with a right head on his shoulders is ever going to refer to his testicles as bags.
Laurel:It’s just nice to clarify. So you’re going to move in with her? How does she feel about that?
Wyatt:Probably not great, but it will be weird if I stay at the inn. I had to cover up for it already. If we’re dating and going to get married, it only makes sense that I move in.
Laurel:Do people know you’re getting married?
Wyatt:I had breakfast with Hayes this morning and dropped the seed with him.
Laurel:What kind of seed . . .
